Improvement in car-couplings



P. 0. SEYMOUR. Oar-Coupling.

N0. 218,069. Patented July 29, I879.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK O. SEYMOUR, OF ST. LOUIS, MICHIGAN.

lM PROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 218,069, dated July 29,1879 application filed April 1, 1879.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, FRANK O. SEYMOUR, of St. Louis, in the county ofGratiot and State of Michigan, have invented an Improvement inOar-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

The nature of this invention relates to new and useful improvements inthe construction of car-couplings; and the invention consists in thepeculiar construction of parts, their combination and operation, as morefully hereinafter set forth.

Figure 1 is a perspective, partially in section, showing the draw-bar inplace. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line :20 :10.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Arepresents the end or head of a draw-bar, provided with the mouth B,flaring in all directions. This month terminates at the rear in anopening or throat rectangular in form, longest in vertical crosssection,through which the coupling-bar O enters the head. This coupling-bar,being harpoon shaped at both ends, enters said opening or throat, whenthe shoulder of the harpoou'head on the under side engages with the rearside of the lug D, at the same time forcing the gate E upward until theupper shoulder of the harpoon passes the downwardlyprojecting flange Fof the gate, which then falls, thereby securing both shoulders of theharpoon within the head. This gate is constructed substantially in theform shown, and to its bottom end is secured the stop plate a, which, byits impingement against the bottom of the draw-bar, prevents itswithdrawal from above; and it is also provided with a stop, (I, whichstrikes against the upper part of the head within the recess, andprevents the gate from being withdrawn should the stop plate a beremoved. This gate works in halt-dovetail ways in the interior of thedraw-barhead. which holds the same rigidly in position and confines itsmotion to a vertical reciprocating one.

G is a plate or metallic block, or projection from the bottom, designedto perform two functions, to wit: It operates as a weight to keep thegate E depressed, so that it is always ready to engage with a couplingbar, and to release the coupling-bar from its engagement with the stud Das the gate and plate are raised, the plate impinging against the underside of the couplingbar to compel such rcleasement.

A lever, H, pivoted to the draw-bar and connected to the head of thegate may be employed, so that the uncoupling may be done from eitherside of the car.

What I claim as my invention is The combination, with the draw-head A B,of the vertical slide E, Working in half-dovetail ways in the head, andprovided with pin b, plate a, and block G, and the lever H, pivoted tothe top of draw-head and to said slide, constructed and arrangedsubstantially as described and shown.

FRANK C. SEYMOUR.

Witnesses:

H. S. SPRAGUE, A. BARTHEL.

